4-Year Program
The BFA curriculum builds a strong foundation in ballet and contemporary dance styles. Two technique classes a day, four days a week provide a consistent means for developing the necessary skills throughout the four year degree program. Dance Composition and Choreography also constitute a steady curricular pathway through the four years. Numerous concerts are held every year to provide opportunities for showcasing student choreography, as well as providing performance opportunities for student, faculty and guest artist works. In the Fall semester of the second year, all BFA II students present a solo of their own making. In addition, all students are required to choreograph a group work for a school concert during their residency. All students and faculty participate in weekly Dance Showings. This provides a venue for the presentation of works in progress combined with artistic feedback from faculty and fellow students, fostering a unique collegial community.
The curriculum offers comprehensive instruction in all areas of dance production. Courses in stagecraft, lighting design, costume design, audio and video production prepare students for a variety of design and production crewing responsibilities. In addition, students take courses in music for dance and dance for camera, gaining theoretical, practical and creative perspectives on the relationships between dance and media. At CalArts, students also benefit from courses offered in the Schools of Art, Theater, Music, and Film/Video, which can be taken to supplement and deepen one’s understanding of dance in relationship to these art forms. Collaborations and multimedia productions are prevalent and encouraged.
In addition to annual reviews, BFA Dance candidates are required to pass a Mid-Residence Review and a Graduation Review in order to complete the program.
Full Curriculum
Detailed curriculum and academic requirements can be found in the online course catalog.
View Curriculum Requirements